MayFest Sunday

A Day of Dance with a hefty helping of Baroque loveliness!

Richmond on Swale Morris’ annual Day of Dance to coincide with MayFest brings sides from across Yorkshire and the North East to dance in and around Richmond town centre. From around 9.30 am through to around 4pm, follow the sound of bells and clash of sticks to track them down. There’ll be dancing in:

Richmond Market Place - on the curtilage under Trinity Tower
Finkle Street
Friary Gardens
Richmondshire Museum
Richmond Castle

Morris Day of Dance

the Richmond Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society dancing on the Trinity curtilage around lunchtime
Maypole Movers leading maypole dancing sessions through the day at the Castle
Have Maypole Will Travel are putting their maypole aside for the day to perform historical dances at St Mary’s as part of Baroque Fest
Cricket on the Hearth Appalachian Clog dancing at the Castle

And lots more dancing too…

Also in the Market Place: MayFest Markets for crafts, gifts and food & drink - plus children’s rides and games

May Fair at Richmond Castle

The May Fair continues at the Castle, with medieval mayhem from Dawn of Chivalry, Circus Skills with Circus Stu, Glitter Critterz face painting, stories and music from Clare Goodall, axe throwing with Regan’s Reivers… plus today:

Maypole dancing with Maypole Movers
Morris dancing - don’t miss the finale from 3.30pm!
Appalachian Clog dancing from Cricket on the Hearth
Music from the Jolly Wassailers

Plus the Castle Market Stalls, plenty to eat and drink, and the chance to explore the Castle. NB: Free admission to DL9, DL10 and DL11 residents!

MayFest Makers

Join Chris and Wendy at Richmondshire Museum to make stunning designs to take home - or to carry in the MayFest Parade on Monday! 11-1 and 2-4 Saturday and Sunday. Free admission for DL9, DL10 and DL11 residents.

New for MayFest this year, Baroque Fest is a celebration of the music of the baroque era - that’s roughly from the beginning of the seventeenth century through to around 1750. This period of time saw the development of the modern orchestra and was also when music notation settled into the form we know today.

Baroque Fest takes place in St Mary’s Church and is an afternoon in three delightful parts:

The Herschel Players - flute and harpsichord duo, 2-3pm
Have Maypole Will Travel presenting country dances of the baroque period - and this is also a chance to grab tea and a cake! in aid of St Mary’s 3-4pm
Andrew Christer plays baroque pieces on St Mary’s magnificent organ, 4-5pm

Admission is free but donations are extremely welcome! Doors open 1.30pm - come and relax with great music in our magnificent parish church.